Report: Kalen DeLoach expected to sign with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed Florida State linebacker Kalen DeLoach following the 2024 NFL Draft.

According to Matt Zenitz of 247 sports, DeLoach will head to The Bay to begin his pro career. Here was his tweet reporting that news: “Former Florida State linebacker Kalen DeLoach is expected to sign with the #Buccaneers, a source tells @247Sports.”

DeLoach was one of the top recruits in the Seminoles’ 2019 recruiting class despite the shift to Mike Norvell as head coach at the end of the year. The Savannah, GA native opted to head to Florida State, picking them over the Big Ten’s Michigan Wolverines and SEC’s Auburn Tigers.

With the Seminoles, the six-foot-one 210lbs linebacker would play in just four games his first two years on campus. However, in 2021, DeLoach would see ample action at Florida State, playing in 12 games. In the two seasons that followed- 2022 and 2023, his productivity would increase, with last season being the best season of his collegiate career. DeLoach finished Florida State’s 2023 campaign with 68 total tackles, 33 solo, 10.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception to his name. He also finished his time there as an ACC champion following the Seminoles’ 13-1 campaign, including an undefeated run up and through the conference championship game.

The former four-star recruit out of the 2019 recruiting class suited up for Islands High School in his hometown of Savannah, GA. There, the lodge earned a rating of 91 and was ranked 237 nationally, 29 among linebackers, and 27 among players coming out of Georgia that year, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Kalen DeLoach

NFL.com gives Kalen DeLoach a prospect grade of 5.88, putting him in the group classified as an ‘Average Backup Or Special-Teamer.’ NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein provided an analysis of the former Florida State linebacker’s ability and how it transitions to the next level.

“Undersized linebacker who needs a team willing to work around his size deficiencies and find a way to emphasize his playmaking mentality. DeLoach is built like a strong safety and zooms around the line of scrimmage, darting into gaps and disrupting play designs, but he’ll have issues holding up when blockers find him. He’s an athletic blitzer with excellent body control in pursuit. While he’s physically capable in man coverage, there are a few too many mental busts in the passing game. His size will be a concern, but he has run-and-hit talent and might offer enough sub-package potential to make a roster and eventually see the field beyond special teams.”

NFL.com also lists DeLoach’s strengths as follows: Possesses playmaking traits and a nose for the football; Gap shooter with twitchy downhill trigger for disruptions; Rangy in pursuit with above-average closing burst to the ball; Open-field athleticism showed up with his passes defensed; Impressive blitzer with the fluidity to zero in and finish the sack; Better tackle strength than expected for his size.

In terms of weaknesses, DeLoach’s are listed as such: Lack of size and length create issues with position fit; Will avoid blockers to the detriment of his run fit at times; Struggles to work quickly off of first contact; Too many busts locating his coverage responsibilities.